Gorey Community School board aims to remain open amid ongoing ASTI dispute
GOREY Community School is closed today, Tuesday, due to the ASTI strike, but has confirmed it will open as normal on Wednesday, despite being affected by the refusal of ASTI members to perform breaktime supervision or substitution duties.
Around 60 per cent of schools nationwide were forced to close due to the supervision dispute which came into effect on Monday.
Schools where teachers are members of the TUI, mainly Education and Training Board schools like Creagh College and Coláiste an Átha Kilmuckridge, are not affected by the action, and are open as normal.
Just over half of Gorey Community School’s 130 teachers are members of the TUI. Principal Michael Finn said that all efforts are being made to keep the 1,300 pupil school open.
‘I looked at the rosters to see if it was possible to do it,’ he said, explaining that he found a pressure point on supervision cover in the mornings before school.
‘I wrote to all parents last week explaining to them that the school would be opening, and I explained that supervision at break time would be reduced,’ he continued. ‘I asked that where possible if they would mind sending their chidren in from quarter to nine, and they did that, and it helped considerably.’
He said that the TUI members are still providing supervision, though it is at a reduced level.
He confirmed, however, that the school will close on the days that the ASTI has planned strike action. These dates include today, Tuesday, November 8; as well as November 16, 24, and 29, and December 6 and 7.
He said that if the talks between the ASTI and the Department of Education don’t reach a resolution on the supervision issue, and the situation continues, then the board of management will look at contingency arrangements, including the possibility of bringing in external supervisors.
‘ The aim of the board is to keep the school open,’ said Mr Finn. ‘But we won’t be in a position to open on the strike days.’
‘Once the board felt it was able to provide a safe environment for students, we were able to make provision for the school to open,’ he said.